Fast holographic wavefront sensor: sensing without computing

In this talk we will present work on a fast zonal wavefront sensor. The device consists of a multiplexed hologram which can reconstruct multiple diffracted beams to an image plane with the input of a single object beam. The hologram is prerecorded with many different gratings designed to detect any combination of Zernike term and amplitude. In operation, a wavefront incident on the hologram reconstructs a number of output beams that focus onto a distant detector. The location of these spots is specifically related to a particular Zernike polynomial of particular strength, so a complete description of the wavefront can be made by simple readout of a CCD. While this wavefront sensor is limited in spectral coverage due to dispersion in the hologram there are many benefits. Since no calculations are required, this sensor can operate at MHz rates irrespective of the number of Zernike terms used. The removal of complex computations also reduces instrument complexity and size. In this talk we will present results of the both the theory and operation of our holographic wavefront sensor.

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